FEET WASHING ORDINANCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

The root of this practice appears to be found in the hospitality customs of ancient civilizations, especially where sandals were the chief footwear. A host would provide water for guests to wash their feet, provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests or even serve the guests by washing their feet. This is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament of the Bible (e.g. Genesis
18:4 ; 19:2 ; 24:32 ; 43:24 ; I Samuel 25:41
Feet washing was instituted by Christ in John13.14-16
It showed humility, as the participants have to stoop low to wash the feet. Humility is from the greek word 'tapeinoo 'to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart):--abase, bring low, humble (self). This is a prerequisite for upliftment according to 1peter5.5-6. The greatest hindrance to faith is pride, a false estimation of self. Feet washing break the yokeof pride. Great miracles follow folks who observe this ordinance. In Genesis 18. from verse 4, Abraham received , revelations , became an intersesor, rescued a family member, broke the yoke of barrennes , experienced security , through the ordinance of feet washing . Widows in the early church broke through the barrier of poverty and enjoyed favour through feet washing 1Timothy 5.9-10  The ordinance of feet washing predates the laws of Moses. originated by the same token through which the holy communion originated. If you believe in the potency of holy communion then you should believe in feet washing.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD ? NOW IS THE TIME FOR SALVATION

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD ? NOW IS THE TIME FOR SALVATION  .  
God decided to come down to human level by manifesting in Jesus Christ to reconcile man back to Him. This was to settle once and for all the misunderstandings between God and man. 
    During His earthly ministry Jesus Christ taught about the Kingdom of God being real and dwelt amongst us. He told us the kingdom of God was within our reach, Mathew 4:17, however man-made religions makes it difficult to realize this  .
    Religious practices are based on what man thinks as acceptable conditions for entrance in to the kingdom of God and they fall short of God's plan to save man.  The bible says in Colossians 2:20-23 “ You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,  "Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!"?  Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires. NLT Bible , in Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' and also in Lk 18:10-14  "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'  "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'  I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."    
Seven Things That Will Not Take A Person To Heaven
1. Ability to prophesy
2. Ability to cast out devils
3 .Ability to work miracles
4.  Having a religious title or name
5 .fasting and prayer
6 tithing and offering
7.church membership.
      The Word of God teaches salvation is a gift to be received with thanksgiving  Tit 3:5 “he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.” Mssg Bible. This process is known as being born again. Rejecting this free gift the bible says would lead to eternal damnation (Separation from God)Mark16:16 Mk 16:16 ..”whoever does not believe will be condemned ”NIV How To Be Saved : Jesus said “you must be born again” John3:3-7  Ro 10:9-11 “For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.    For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed.”
DO YOU WANT TO BE SAVED? Then pray this prayer: Heavenly father I come to you as a sinner; forgive me of my sins, I accept Jesus Christ as my lord and  saviour .Thank you for accepting me as your child .Amen   
For counseling call or email Pst. Michael Benson Ajayi 234+08035536911. 234+ 08098536911 ,
Gracevine family church beside shipyard  by new flyover  off Alcon road last bus stop. woji town PH. Nig
You may inbox me and share your testimony . Michael Benson Ajayi // www.facebook.com
email:gracevinemin@yahoo.com :
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SCIENCE , FAITH IN HARMONY? ( GOD AND THE BLACK HOLE )

SCIENCE AND FAITH IN HARMONY (GOD AND THE BLACK HOLE)
CASE IN STUDY :
ASTRONOMY - THE BLACK HOLE PHENOMENON
What Is a Black Hole?
A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light
can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed
into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.
Because no light can get out, people can't see black holes. They are
invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The
special tools can see how stars that are very close to black holes act
differently than other stars.
How Do Black Holes Form?
Scientists think the smallest black holes formed when the universe began.
Stellar black holes are made when the center of a very big star falls in upon
itself, or collapses. When this happens, it causes a supernova. A supernova
is an exploding star that blasts part of the star into space.
Scientists think supermassive black holes were made at the same time as
the galaxy they are in.

If Black Holes Are "Black," How Do Scientists Know They Are There?
A black hole can not be seen because strong gravity pulls all of the light into
the middle of the black hole. But scientists can see how the strong gravity
affects the stars and gas around the black hole. Scientists can study stars to
find out if they are flying around, or orbiting, a black hole.
When a black hole and a star are close together, high-energy light is made.
This kind of light can not be seen with human eyes. Scientists use satellites
and telescopes in space to see the high-energy light.
NO BODY CAN CLAIM TO HAVE SEEN A BLACK HOLE BUT WE BELIEVE THEY EXIST BECAUSE WE BELIEVE OUR SCIENTISTS DESPITE THEIR IMPERFECTIONS.
Let's examine their claims , 1)a black hole has a middle ( implying there is a beginning and therefore an end or it has a perimeter or radius ) 2) black holes have masses ( they can be weighed based on standards determined only by a few persons out  of 7 billion persons on earth)
We believe this because WE CHOOSE  TO . This helps us understand the universe
FAITH , SCIENCE AND GOD
Hebrews 11:1, 3 NLT
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen."
What this means is that there is a difference between what was created and what was made.
You create something from what can not be seen while things a made from what has been created.
Therefore , it is wrong to give credit to a scientist  for making something out of an intelligent object created by God. Scientists make things out of what God has created. Without the innate intelligence in the nucleus andmby extension the  molecules of a cell , it will be absolutely impossible to manipulate a cell in to taking a desired shape . The human hand moves according to an invisible will of man, the various motor cells are intelligent enough to respond to our command.
From the above it will be contradictory to say faith and science are at a crossroad but rather they run parallel with each other. 
EMPERICAL DATA AND FAITH
Science deals with imperical data and the general consensus of peer groups in the scientific community. However, from the study of black holes certain assumptions where made in order to make progress , these sometimes are later proven wrong based on new more reliable data and evidence, case in point , the continental plates or shells where once seen as one continual plate by the scientific community until new data proved otherwise. There is also debate on the effect of global warming and climate change. The scientific community is torn on what to believe on the issue of climate change. Against this backdrop one could not base ones belief on a subjective system of analysis and yet arrive on an objective truth. That's why truth is seen as subjective , one man's meat being another's poison, thus there 'll be no obligation whatsoever to a righteous cause since righteousness doesn't exist in a world where truth is relative .

Does faith allow for imperial analysis , Yes, it does however , we are reminded of it's limitations .
John 20:24-25 NLT
One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
John 20:26-27 NLT
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
John 20:29 NLT
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

DO NOT CHOKE ON A DREAM

WORLDLY CARES ARE THORNS
Luke 8:14, "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."
This third type of ground is characteristic of a large part of the Body of Christ today. These are people who have received God's Word, committed themselves to it to the degree that they are able to remain faithful in persecution, but because of being occupied with the affairs of this life, the Word sown in their heart is choked and no fruit is produced. Just as weeds in a garden will steal all of the nutrients and starve the plant, so the pleasures of this life, if we allow them to dominate our thinking, will stop the fruit that the Word would have produced. Throughout history, the Church has always grown in size and strength during persecution. This is because during persecution we get our priorities straight. We realize our life is in Jesus (Jn. 14:6) and not in things (Lk. 12:15), and we focus all of our attention on the Lord. However, prosperity has been far more damaging to the Body of Christ for the exact reason stated here in this verse. God wants to bless His children with things (Ps. 35:27; Mt. 6:33), but a preoccupation with these things will choke God's Word and make it unfruitful. If we would follow God's formula for prosperity found in Matthew 6:19-34, we would have the Word bringing forth fruit and we'd enjoy the physical blessings of this life, too. Notice Jesus said that no fruit was brought to perfection. This type of person will exhibit some fruit, but it will always be small and far short of what it should be. Do you feel frustrated because you are just getting by and are not really experiencing the abundant life that Jesus came to give? (Jn. 10:10) Examine your lifestyle and see if the cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, or pleasures of this life could be choking God's Word. His Word never fails.